IT wasn't quite a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but Steve Fennell was £60 better off after winning the second Cowpe Fly Anglers Open competition.

His bag of blues and rainbow trout, weighing 11.73Ibs, was good enough to come out on top in the field of 21 at the Waterfoot reservoir.

Fennell was one of nine club members to take part while an encouraging number of visitors also travelled to the Rossendale waters to compete in the most skilful of angling disciplines.

And it was one such visitor, Edward Livesey who pushed Fennell closest with his three heaviest fish weighing in at 7.96Ibs. Livesey took the second price of £40.

It proved to be a double success for Fennell who also won the Club Trophy.

Competition rules meant that each angler could submit his three biggest fish in to the final weigh-in, using barb-less fly only.

However, Carl Metcalf had no such luxury but his two fish, weighing 6.68Ibs, was good to win third place and claim the £20 cash prize.

The final cash prize went to fourth place D Livesey whose bag of trout -- two fish weighing 5.49Ibs -- earned him £10.

Club chairman, Ted Wilson, who finished well down the field with one fish weighing 0.99Ilbs, was happy with the turn-out.

"I was encouraged to see so many anglers take part, especially visitors," said Ted who only founded the club last year. "That is was these open events are all about. This is the second such event we have held and the first one attracted 17 anglers so to have more this time around is good for us."

Club member, Tim Taylor, finished just outside the money with his catch of two fish, weighing 4.98Ibs, saw him finish in fifth place.

T Hogg was sixth with 4.59Ibs while Fred Balderston solitary fish weighed 3.75Ibs to take seventh spot.

Other anglers to get a nibble were Mark Swindells, M Green, Keith Benson and Wilson.

The club currently has 32 members who travel from as far as Great Harwood to Bolton but are mainly centred around the Rossendale area. Anyone interested in joining should contact Ted Wilson on 07786 181636.